THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL 36 | MARCH 2025 Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff. By Mike Mayberry Oklahoma’s Agriculture Mediation Program: Specialized Statewide Farmer and Rancher Assistance Alternative Dispute Resolution THE OKLAHOMA AGRICULTURE MEDIATION PROGRAM INC. (OAMP) has existed since 1987 to help Oklahoma farmers and ranchers with disputes and disruptive issues. Founded at a time when farmers and ranchers nationwide were experiencing the farm crisis of the 1980s, the OAMP not-for-profit corporation now serves all 77 counties in Oklahoma. BACKGROUND Some agricultural producers in the ‘80s were distressed to the point of killing themselves, often finding methods that did not trigger suicide exceptions in their life insurance policies. Stories circulated in Oklahoma and nationwide of agricultural producers “accidentally” having tractors roll over on them or trucks running into bridge abutments so that the life insurance policies could be used to pay off the farm or ranch debt and allow the families to continue their production efforts. These concerns were part of the impetus for legislative action that led to the OAMP. Congress and the Oklahoma Legislature stepped up to help alleviate the farm crisis. Following state legislative efforts to offer relief to producers, Congress passed 7 CFR Part 785, which was intended to provide emotional relief and financial assistance. Out of these efforts, the OAMP became one of the first in the nation via Title 2 O.S. Section 2-30. THE OAMP NOW Back to the present, the OAMP offices are located in the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry building within the state Capitol complex. It operates as an Oklahoma nonprofit corporation, receiving funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There are currently 44 officially recognized agriculture mediation programs in the United States, operating mostly in states you would imagine. States like California, Kansas, Nebraska and Florida are rather obvious, but there are also programs in New Jersey and Rhode Island, where there are hundreds of microfarms and orchards. One of the newest programs is located in Alaska. Be sure to see the sidebar list of the types of mediations authorized by the CFR. While this list covers most mediation matters that come up in Oklahoma, the 2018 Farm Bill added an important expansion that includes matters determined by the secretary of agriculture as appropriate for mediation. Mediation categories available for mediation by the OAMP include: Agricultural loans, including defaults and accelerations Wetlands determinations
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